This policy was recommended by Academic Senate on February 3, 2000
and approved by the President on February 10, 2000.

Section I of this policy is adapted from the "Statement on Professional
Ethics" of the American Association of University Professors that
was adopted by the Association's Council in 1987 and endorsed by
the Seventy-third Annual Meeting. For purposes of this document,
the term professor refers to any Unit 3 employee.

INTRODUCTION

Membership in the academic profession carries with it special responsibilities. This policy reaffirms these responsibilities, providing guidance
to professors in such matters as their utterances as citizens, the
exercise of their responsibilities to
students and colleagues, and their conduct when undertaking sponsored
research. Specifically, it sets forth those general standards that
serve as a reminder of the variety of responsibilities assumed by
all members of the profession.

In the enforcement of ethical standards, the academic profession
differs from those of law and medicine, whose associations act to
ensure the integrity of members engaged in private practice. In
the academic profession the individual institution of higher learning
provides this assurance and so should normally handle questions
concerning propriety of conduct within its own framework by reference
to a faculty group. If an alleged offense is deemed sufficiently
serious to raise the possibility of adverse action, the procedures
should be in accordance with the CSU-CFA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

I. STATEMENT ON PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

A. Professors, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity
of the advancement of knowledge, recognize the special responsibilities
placed upon them. Their primary responsibility to their subject
is to seek and to state the truth as they see it. To this end professors
devote their energies to developing and improving their scholarly
competence. They accept the obligations to exercise critical self-discipline
and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. They
practice intellectual honesty.
Although professors may follow subsidiary interests, these interests
must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of inquiry.

B. As teachers, professors encourage the free pursuit of learning
in their students. They hold before them the best scholarly and
ethical standards of their discipline. Professors demonstrate respect
for students as individuals and adhere to their proper roles as
intellectual guides and counselors. Professors make every reasonable
effort to foster honest academic conduct and to ensure that their
evaluations of students reflect each student's true merit. They
respect the confidential nature of the relationship between professor
and student. They avoid any exploitation, harassment, or discriminatory
treatment of students. They acknowledge significant academic or
scholarly assistance from them. They protect their academic freedom.

C. As colleagues, professors have obligations that derive from
common membership in the community of scholars. Professors do not
discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend
the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and
ideas professors show due respect for the opinions of others. Professors
acknowledge academic debt and strive to be objective in their professional
judgment of colleagues. Professors accept their share of faculty
responsibilities for the governance
of their institution.

D. As members of an academic institution, professors seek above
all to be effective teachers and scholars. Although professors observe
the stated regulations of the institution, provided the regulations
do not contravene academic freedom, they maintain their right to
criticize and seek revision. Professors give due regard to
their paramount responsibilities within their institution in determining
the amount and character of work done outside it. When considering
the interruption or termination of their service, professors recognize
the effect of their decision upon the program of the institution
and give due notice of their intentions.

E. As members of their community, professors have the rights and
obligations of other citizens. Professors measure the urgency of
these obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their
subject, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution.
When they speak or act as private persons they avoid creating the
impression of speaking or acting for their college or university.
As citizens engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for
its health and integrity, professors have a particular obligation
to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding
of actions taken.

II. IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES

The fundamental purpose of a statement of professional responsibility
is to establish a guide to responsible performance that is consistent
with the highest ideals of the academic profession. When cases of
gross disregard for principles of professional responsibility occur,
members of the university community have both a right and a duty
to call the lapse to the attention of the individual concerned and
to expect that the irresponsible behavior will be discontinued. If the complaint alleges any type of discrimination, including sexual
harassment, or any other conduct potentially covered by the Policy
on Discrimination, Including Sexual Harassment, and Procedures for
Complaint Resolution (PS 98-09), the complaint must be referred
to the Discrimination Complaint Resolution Officer, as identified
in PS 98-09, and no further action should be taken under this policy.

A. Informal Resolution

1. Informal resolution is always preferable. When a member of the
university community questions the professional integrity and/or
behavior of a faculty member, every effort should be made, by consulting
with the principals involved, to determine if an informal solution
can be achieved at the department and/or college level.

B. Formal Resolution

1. If a breach of professional responsibility is alleged which
cannot be or is not adequately handled informally, any involved
party may refer the matter to the Chair of the Panel on Professional
Responsibility (see Section III.A).

2. As quickly as may be feasible and in accordance with the process
described in Section III.B, a Committee of the Panel on Professional
Responsibility should begin an inquiry into the facts of any case
it is asked to investigate. The committee shall immediately notify
the principals involved and the Vice President for Academic Affairs
that an investigation is to be conducted. If the University intends
to conduct an investigation which may lead to a formal notice of
disciplinary action, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall
so notify the committee and the committee shall take no further
action.

3. The committee shall work informally and shall keep only those
notes and records that are needed for their own purposes. These
records, as well as any recommendations the committee makes, shall
be confidential.

4. Alternative Courses of Action

a. The committee may, at any time, discontinue the inquiry because
the facts do not provide sufficient evidence to support the allegations.
In such a case, the committee shall report its reasons for discontinuing
the inquiry to the principals involved.

b. If the committee carries its inquiry to completion, it must
determine whether or not the evidence supports the allegations,
and report to the principals involved.

c. Within ten (10)
days of receipt of the report, any party to the dispute may submit
a written response to the committee, which shall be attached to
all copies of the report.

d. If the finding is that a serious breach of professional responsibility
has occurred then a copy of the committee's final report, along
with supporting documentation, shall be forwarded to the Vice President
for Academic Affairs for possible action and/or inclusion of the
report in the personnel file.

5. In all cases, any original documentation obtained in the course
of the investigation shall be returned to its original source. All
other records of the investigation shall be destroyed.

III. PANEL ON PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES

1. The Academic Senate Committee on Committees shall nominate faculty
to serve on the Panel. Nominations shall be subject to approval
by the Academic Senate.

2. Nominees shall be selected equitably from the Colleges, Library
Services, and the Student Affairs Division Unit Three membership,
with special attention to the high regard in which they are held
by the academic community.

3. The members shall serve staggered three-year terms. Terms shall
be selected by lot in the first year of operation.

4. One member of the Panel shall be appointed Chair by the Executive
Committee of the Academic Senate and shall convene Committees of
the Panel.

A. A University Panel on Professional Responsibility shall be established annually. It shall be composed of twenty (20) full-time, tenured faculty.

B. When it is necessary to establish a Committee of the Panel on
Professional Responsibility, as described in Section I.A.2 of this
policy, three faculty members from the Panel who are not in the
departments of those involved in the allegations, have had no involvement
in the dispute and who are mutually acceptable to the principals
involved, shall be empowered to function as a Committee to conduct
an informal investigation of the allegations, employing whatever
procedures it deems appropriate for the particular case. If it is
impossible to find three members by mutual consent, then a random
selection procedure shall be used, from among those Panel members
not in the College(s) of those involved, with challenge possible
only for cause, as determined by the Chair of the Panel.

C. Upon request of a member of the university community, the Panel
Chair may convene a Committee to give advisory opinions as to contemplated
conduct; such opinions shall be transmitted to the principals involved
in writing.